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HYDERABAD: While there are several matrimonial and dating websites, mobile phone apps to bring two individuals closer for life, there are none that consider giving space to the special ones. Taking the concept of inclusiveness a step forward, Shankar Srinivasan and Kalyani Khona launched a mobile app, Inclov, on Android platform.

The idea is simple: normalise the concept of dating and hanging out for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), it is open and accessible to all. Hyderabad features in the top eight cities with close to 400 regular users.

“It was launched on January 21, 2016 as a prototype. Inclov’s co-founder Kalyani Khona and I wanted to create a matchmaking platform and when we did our initial research, we realised that there was no such platform for PWDs,” shared 25-year-old Srinivasan.

“It started off as an offline matchmaking space in July 2014, and 2,000 people signed up. It was clear to us that more people needed it and hence created the app,” added Srinivasan.

A year after its launch, the app currently has 8,000 users out of which 60 per cent are active. It also boasts of creating 2,500 matches in the last one year. “There is one couple that got married in May 2016 after meeting on Inclov.

They are both polio-affected and were looking for partners actively for six to eight years by then. They are now leading a satisfactory life,” shared Srinivasan, adding that this is one example which fulfills Inclov’s objective.

Though primarily designed to meet the needs of PWDs, it is open for all. “We are nobody to categorise people and decide who they can or cannot meet and date.

We have seen so many instances where people without disabilities have married or have become partners of PWDs. Also, we are constantly trying to make the app easily accessible for all. That is a daily challenge for us,” shared Srinivasan.

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